Shop bench



June 9, 1931. A. M. BARRETT -SHOP BENCH Filed Jan. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1931. A. M. BARRETT 1,809,

SHOP BENCH Fil d Jan. 2:, 192a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 9, 1931 i 1 UNITED T E- rlnrnoraivr'ennnnrnon INNETKA, ILLINOIS, Assrenonmo nAnnnrr'r-cnAvnns ooiw relaxer 'oHIoAGo, ILnINoIs, AooBPonATIo'NoF ILLINOIS SHOPBENGH Application" file'ri lanuary 1 92'sq2seria1 zmhz rsms.

This invention relates to work orishop benches-and its objects are the-provision1of -;a generallyiimproved Simplified and economical construction having? greatstrength as well V 5 :as advantageously reinforced where the heavy loads. areusually placed an'chprotected against uneven or -.undue wear], particularlyalong the out'er or frontedge of the bench.

EInitheordin ary shop benches, as heretofore lo constructed, the boards forming the top of the bench have usually been-arrangedl-longitudinally :of the ;:b.ench.' :This longitudinal disposition-of the boards'is :not best suited for carrying 7 the stresses Fimposed by aheavy load :upon :the bench 'and,- in addition, 1 3116 front bo'a'rd receivesran" undue; amount ofwear and is very quiokly"'roundedioif along :its front 'or outer longitudinal edge with the result that the upper surface of the bench becomes uneven oriirregular.

The present'inventionrprovides an im proved arrangement of the boards forming the top :of a :bench'of this sort andpan improved "protecting 'reenforcement ialong :the

front or outer edge of thesbench. Withthis and :Wit-houtbuying steel or :zpressed :steel.

legs and constructing the bench in the :shop inwhich it is'to be usedyas heretofore. "To

40 i this end theinvention provides a=leg and brace structure that rmay be folded :up compactly;

' iron. JTheanglebajrQhas a hor zontalifiange 511 which overlies the-tops of the :frontrendsl and adapted "to *be unfolded and set up with ease andyfac'ility.

The structurebf or ifastened endito .end :to iprovide a bench of any desired length, as wellasit'o makea continous'bench downeany length offactory-and sections of variouswdepthsmay ibe used-to; pass' lposts, lradiators or other obstructions extending transversely the present'hench is: such 1 that sections or flengths of. it:m'-ay ibexbolted.

ers and tpriotects the outer-ends of th-eiboards *6. Eheflange'12 also formsaistiifening flange.

without interfering with or interrupting the continuity-of thebench. 1 Still further provisions of the present inventlon-are an improved'mountingof the-leg and -.brace structure and an improved rear.

edge reenforcement which, iniaddition to its reenforcingand-1eg=mounting function,is-ar-;

ranged to provide an upstandingledge for preventing accidental e displacement of articles fromthe rear: of the upper-surface ofthe bench.

IThe invention .is illustrated :in the accompanying-.drawings,.- in which :Fig. 1 .isa top plan view of aben'ch embodying the present invention;

' Fig. 2.;is .a front {elevational view of the v benchshow nin Rig. 11.3 v v c .Fig. 3=is a perspective view of thesameg; 3 .Fig [is :a -.transverse section taken on *the takenon ithe21ine'6-:6of Fig.1; and I Fig. :7 is aifragm'entary transverse-section taken on the line 7's7 of Fig-1. I

7 Referring to the-drawings, the benchseleicted for illustration .has a top' '5, comprising -parallel transverse vboards' 6 arranged a I so,

with their'lengithsor longitudinal dimensions across the length or longitudinal dimensionsiof the top 5. The ends of-the boards-6 are-secured or bound together-fend held inlrig'id relation along the front ofitheibench iby aifront frame designated at 7 #and are .-secured or 'boundl tos generally Geisa fragmentaryilongitudinal section gether and I held in rigid relation along the rear of the top 5 by a rear -fran ie designated generally 'at8. j The front frame 7 comprises a pair" of angle bars :9 and :10, preferably of suitable steel or 7 of itheboardswfi and 7a dependingkvertical flange 12 which depends down over and-cow oraelement along the front-of the-top 5.and

flange 13 which overlies the under sides or bottoms of the front ends of the boards 6 and a depending vertical flange 14 which serves as an additional stiffening flange longitudinally along the front edge of the top 5 and, in addition, as an element to which the legs and/or brace structure at the front of the bench may be suitably attached or connected with the top 5.

The front ends of the boards 6 are bound or secured between the horizontal flanges 11 and 13 of the bars 9 and 10, as by means of bolts 15, which serve to clamp the upper and lower angle bars 9 and 10 together with the front ends of the boards 6 between the horizontal flanges-11 and 13 thereof. To permit of the passage of the shanks of the bolts 15 therethrough, the flanges 11 and 13 have longitudinally spaced openings 16 which, with the parts assembled, as shown, register with each other and with openings 17 through the front ends of the boards atthe opposite ends of the top 5 and through the front ends of several of the intermediate boards. The front ends of the boards 6 are preferably rabbeted or scarfed at 18 to receive the flange 11 fiushwith the upper surface of the top 5and the openings 16 through the upper flange 11 are preferably countersunk, as shown in Figure 5, withthe heads of the bolts 15 lying flush with the upper surface of the 'flange ll and the top of the flange 11 presenting a smooth surface. The depth of the rabbet is substantially-equal to the thickness of the flange 11 and with the top of the flange 11 flush with the upper surfaces ofthe boards 6, the top 5 is provided with a smooth upper surface, The lower ends of the bolts 15 have threaded engagement with nuts 19 which are drawn up'into cooperation with'the bottom of the flange 13 and draw the flanges 11 and 13 together with the adjacent ends of the boards 6 between them. In the illustrated{ embodiment of the invention the front ends of each of the end boards and the front ends of only some of the intermediate boards are bolted between the flanges'll' and 13 with the remaining boards bound between theflanges 11 and13 and restrained against dis placement longitudinally "of the bench "by means of the boards which are bolted and operation of the inner edge of the flange 11' with the vertical shoulders formed'by the scarfing 18. The depending flange 12- is adapted to form an additional barrier againstforward displacement of the boards which arenot bolted. I

The rear frame member 8 comprises a pair of angle bars 20 and 21 which may also be of suitable iron or steel. The angle bar 20 has a horizontal flange 22 overlying the tops of the rear ends of the boards 6, the rear ends of the boards '6 being preferably rabbeted or 'scarfed at'23 to receive the flange 22 flush and forming a stiffening flange along the rear of the top 5. The upstanding flange 25 may, in addition, serve to prevent displacement of articles from the rear of the upper surface of the top 5.

-The rear angle bar 21 has a horizontal 1 flange 2'6 underlying the bottoms of the rear ends of the boards 6 and a vertical flange 27 depending substantially in the plane of the flange 25, this depending flange 27 serving as an additional stiffener along the rear of the top 5 and as an element to which the legs and brace structure, at the rear of the bench, may be suitably attached or connected With the top 5.

The rear ends of the boards 6 are bound or secured between the horizontal flanges 22' and 26 of the bars 20 and 21, as by means of bolts 30 the shanks of which preferably pass through the flanges 22 and 26 and through the rear ends of the end boards and intermediate boards through which the shanks of the bolts 15 pass at the front of the bench. Beneath the flange 26 the bolts 30 engage in nuts 31 which are adapted to be drawn up into cooperation with th'e'flange 26 to draw the flanges 22 and 26 together with the rear ends of the boards 6 clamped'flrmly therebetween. WVith the arrangement shown it is unnecessary to provide bolts at the opposite ends of each board and only a. relatively small tongue and-groove Joints as indicated at 32 in Fig. 6; 1

The top 5'is supported by two pairs of legs 35, 35and 36, 36, preferably arranged at the corners of a'generally rectangular figure and each preferably of angle iron or other suitable stock. The legs 35, 35. may be braced crosswise or transversely of the bench by a cross brace 37 and the legs 36, 36 may be similarly braced bya cross brace 38. The cross braces 37 and 38 may likewise be of angle iron or other suitable stock. The upper ends of the longitudinally disposed flanges of the front legs are pivoted at 39 to the depending flange 14 of the angle bar 10 and the corners 4-0 of these longitudinally disposed flanges are preferably rounded, as shown in 6, to permit the front legs 35 and 36 to be folded toward each other and up into the plane of the frame member or bars 10 for compact shipment, handling or storage when the bench is not set upfor use. Theupper ends of the'longitudinally disposed flanges of therearlegs 35 and 36-are'similarly pivotedat 42a; the depend.

ing'flange 27 of therear frame member or bar 21 and are preferably similarly rounded to fold with the front legs upjintothe plane of the'rear bar 21. The transversely disposed flanges of the twoflegs of each pair arepreferably finished off square, as shown at '43 in Fig. 4 and whenthelegs are positioned in their upright unfolded or supporting position these square upper ends vof the transverse flanges of the legs and the adjacent square portions of the longitudinally disposed flanges preferably abut the under surfaces of the flanges 13 and 26 fortransmitting the stresses imposed by the top 5 and any load thereon directly to the legs 35, 35 and 36, 36 without imposing, atleast, all of these stresses upon the pivots 39 and 42. I V

Forthe purpose of maintaining and brac-' ing the legs intheir upright supporting positions, each leg is provided with a-diagonal brace 45. The" diagonal braces at the front 'of the bench, are pivotediat 46 tothe dependl ing flange 14 of-thefront frame member or bar 10 and'these'pivoted ends are rounded at.

4'4" to permit the braces to be swunginto their bracingpositionas shown inxFig. 6 and, when I disconnected fromthe-legs, to be swung away from the legs and'up into'the plane of the frame member 10. The braces 45 for the rear legs are similarly pivotedtothe depending flange 27" and are similarly formed to be swung into bracing position and into the plane ofthe bar 21.; The lower ends of the 'aremitered off at 50- to abut the braces 45 v transverse flanges of thelegs when set up as shown in Fig. 6 and when the legsaresetup "for use these lower ends of the braces-45 may be secured to their respective legs asbymeans ofbolts 52which bolts 52 are separately removable to permit the legs and braces to be disconnected and folded, up compactly into the plane of the top frame'members.

In use the longitudinal front and rear,

frame members 7 and-8 take and distribute the stresses imposedby loads upon the top 5 andcarry. or transmit these stresses to the upright supporting legs. The'deflection of the top under load is jmuch less than that which occurs :where the :boardsi'arearranged V longitudinally even wherethe longitudinal boards are of greater thickness. The heavy loads on a bench of this sort are usuallyplaced toward the ?front edge of the bench and with t the presentconstruction the reinforced front edge willacarry a very: large loadniThere is.

no lonpjtutlinaliboard edge exposed alongxthe front t'obequicklyrounl'ded offand =withnthe present construction the front :frame member .1 provides a hard steel edge *upon which-the mechanic may. straighten nails, cotter pin-s anchperform other work. The frontie dge of the bench is: also =pr'otectedin the :handling of heavy castings and'thelike and the bench may be made up complete in the manufacturers shop and shipped tothe customer all ready to be set up. Thebench requires but a minimum space when folded and is -of great strength when-set up for use and a numberof benches or bench sectionsof this sort may be folded endto end to makea continuousbench down any length ofa factory. H

The lower ends of the legs 35, 35 'and.36,36

may-be provided with endflanges or web-like feet 56 which may be aperturedat 57'toper 'mit bolting to the flooror othersurfac'e'upon';

whichthe ben'c h is set up. i '3 i -The bench may be made up-with and Without provision for drawers. In the bench shown three drawers 60' are provided. Each drawer 60 is provided, at its front with a llZLTlCllefGLfiIld along its oppositesides with shoulders62. 62 slidably supporting or suspending'the drawerinhangers 63. Thehangers 63 extend transversely between'the depending flanges 14 and 27 and maybe suitably secured at their opposite ends thereto and thereis one of these hangers 63, whichare of generally l.-'formation along each of the opposite sides of each drawer60 and cooperating with each of the side shoulders62. The

particular disposition of-the drawers may by varied or theymay be omittedor or decreased in'number.

I c'lalm i increased 1'. In a bench of the classdescribed, a top made-upofa oluralit of transversel ar-' ranged boards lying contiguous and with their ad acent ends insubstantial l'ongltudlnal alignment, a pair'of angle bars extending longitudinallyalong the ends of the-boards andsub'stantially normal-the direction of'extension'offtheboards, Oneofsaid bars having one flange disposed horizontally and over lying the ends of' the boards and" its other flange disposed vertically, the other bar having one flange disposed horizontally and underlying the-ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, said boards being solid, and means for securing the boards between the horizontal flanges-of said angle bar's, said board secu'r:

i'ng means forming thesole connection between said angle bars and the vertical flange of'oneof said angle'bars depending downwardly with the vertical flange of the other anglebar upstanding upwardly above the zbarsloffeaclrpair having one flange disposed 13 horizontally and overlying the ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, the other bar of each pair having one flange disposed horizontally and underlying the ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, said boards being solid, and means for securing the boards between the horizontal flanges of said angle bars, the vertical flanges on both bars along one of the longitudinally. aligned board ends depending downwardly from the horizontal flanges of the bars and being free of each other at all times and the vertical flange on one of the bars along the opposite longitudinally aligned ends ofthe boards depending downwardly with the vertical flange of the other bar upstanding upwardly above the boards.

8. In a bench of the class described, a top made up ofa plurality of transversely arranged boards lying contiguous and with their adjacent ends in substantial longitudinal alignment, a pair of angle bars extending longitudinally along the ends of the boards and substantially normal the direction of extension ofthe boards, one of said bars having one flange disposed horizontally and overlying the ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, the other bar having one flange disposed horizontally andunderlying the ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, said boards being solid, means for securing the, boards between the horizontal flanges of said angle here, said board securing means forming the sole connection between said angle bars, and the vertical flanges of both bars depending downwardly from the horizontal flanges of the bars and being free of each other at all times and supporting legs pivoted to the depending flange of one of said bars for supporting the top in elevated position at sub- 'sta-ntially the level of the arms of a workman in standing position.

y 4. In a bench of the class described, a top made up of a plurality of transversely arranged boards lying contiguous and with their adjacent ends in substantial longitudinal alignment, a pair of angle bars extending longitudinally along the ends of the boards and substantially normal the direction of extension of the boards, one of said bars having one flange disposed horizontally and overlying the ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, the other bar having one flange disposed horizontally and underlying the ends of the boardsand its other flange disposed vertically, said boards beingsolid, means for securingthe hoards between the horizontal flanges-of said angle bars, said board securing means forming the sole connection between said angle bars, and the vertical flanges of both bars depending downwardly from the horizontal flanges of the bars and being free of each other at all times, supporting leg-s pivoted to the depending flange of one of said bars for supporting the to in elevated position at substantially the level of the arms of a workman in standing position, said pivoted legs being swingable up beneath the top and into upright position for use and brace means also pivoted to said depending flange and foldable up beneath the top and adapted to be connected diagonally to said legs and to be disconnected from said le 's.

5. In a bench of the class described, a top made up of a plurality of transversely arranged boards lying contiguous and with their adjacent ends in substantial longitudinal alignment, a pair of angle bars extending longitudinally along the ends of the boards and substantially normal the direction of extension of the boards, one of said bars having one flange disposed horizontally and overlying the ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, the other bar having one flange disposed horizontally and underlying the ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, said boards being solid, means for securing the boards between the horizontal flanges of said angle bars, said board securing means forming the sole connection between said angle bars, and the vertical flanges of both bars depending downwardly from the horizontal flanges of the bars and being free of each other at all times, supporting legs pivoted to the depending flange of one of said barsfor supporting the top in elevated position at substantially the level or" the arms of a workman'in standing position, the upper ends of said legs being formed to permit swinging said legs up beneath the top and shouldered for abutting engagement with the horizontal flanges underlying the board ends when in supportingposition.

6. In a bench of the class described, a top made up of a plurality of transversely arranged boards lying contiguous and with their adjacent ends in substantial longitudinal alignment, a pair of angle bars extending longitudinally along the ends of the boards and substantially normal the direction of extension of the boards, one of said bars having one flange disposed horizontally and overlying the ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, the other bar havone flange disposed horizontally and underlying the ends of the boards and its other flange disposed vertically, said boards being solid, means for securing the boards between the horizontal flanges of said angle bars, said board securing means forming the sole connection between said angle bars, and the vertical flanges of both bars depending downwardly from the horizontal flanges of the bars and being free of each other at all times, supporting legs pivoted to the depending flange of one of saidbars for supporting the top in elevated position at substantially the level of the arms of a Workman in standing position, said pivoted legs being swingable up beneath the top and upright position for use, brace means also pivoted to I said depending flange and foldable up beneath the top and adapted to be connected diagonally to said legs and'to be disconnected fromsaid legs, and adrawer suspended from the bottom of the top and in position between the pivoting of said brace means .tosaid 7 depending flange. Y v

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th dayof January, 1928;

ARTHUR M. BARRETT. 

